“The Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus” – Hebrews 3:1-6

The Lord Jesus Christ is a faithful Savior, worthy of our implicit faith, confidence, and consecration. If you are yet without Christ, you are yet under the wrath of God. You may have many excellent qualities. You may possess much. But you lack the one thing needful. You do not yet believe. You are yet without faith in Christ. Without Christ, you are without life, without atonement, without righteousness, without God, without hope! It is my prayer that you will now consider Christ for yourself, look him over, observe him fully, discover who he is, and trust him for the glory of God and your soul’s everlasting salvation. God help you, now, for Christ’s sake, to trust him. But this text is specifically written to those who are here called “holy brethren.” You and I must always consider Christ, look him over fully, discover who he is, and trust him. In these verses, the Holy Spirit shows us the glory and pre-eminence of Christ over Moses and the law represented by him.

A Description of God’s People

Here is a description of God’s people – “Holy Brethren” (v. 1). Believers are holy, not because of their birth or because of any merit in them, but because of the sanctification of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:4; 5:27; Col. 1:22).

We are brethren because we have been adopted by one Heavenly Father, into one holy family, indwelt by one Holy Spirit, given one nature, and heirs of one great, holy inheritance with Christ, the firstborn among many brethren (Gal. 4:6-7; 1 John 3:1). We are brethren of “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.”

We are also partakers of “the heavenly calling”, because we have been called to life and faith in Christ by the irresistible power and almighty grace of God the Holy Spirit.

This call of God is called “the heavenly calling” with good reason. It is issued from heaven. We are called to Christ, who is in heaven. And it is to heaven that we are called.

The Scriptures make it clear that there is both an effectual call and a general call. All men receive a general call (or warning) through nature (Rom. 1:18-20), by conscience (Rom 2:14,15), and by providence (Amos 4:6-12); but God’s elect, all who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, receive an effectual, irresistible, almighty, saving call (Luke 19:5; Gal. 1:15; 2 Tim. 1:9).

“Am I called? And can it be? Has my Savior chosen me?

Guilty, wretched as I am, Has He named my worthless name?

Vilest of the vile am I, Dare I raise my hopes so high?

Am I called? I dare not stay, May not, must not disobey:

Here I lay me at Thy feet, Clinging to the mercy-seat:

Thine I am, and Thine alone; Lord, with me Thy will be done.

Am I called? What shall I bring As an offering to my King?

Poor, and blind, and naked I, Trembling at Thy footstool lie;

Nought but sin I call my own, Nor for sin can sin atone.

Am I called? An heir of God! Washed, redeemed, by precious blood!

Father, lead me in Thy hand, Guide me to that better land

Where my soul shall be at rest, Pillowed on my Savior’s breast.”

A Description of Our Savior

Here is a description of our great Savior, too. “Consider,” or take a good look at, “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” This is he whom we confess as our Lord and Savior, whom we profess to trust and follow. Let us ever consider him.

He is “the Apostle of our profession,” the Messenger of our faith, the Messenger of the covenant, the One sent of God to preach the gospel of redemption (Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18) and to secure the salvation of his people by his obedience and death (Rom. 5:19; Heb. 9:26-28).

He is also called “the High Priest of our profession”, because he has entered and resides in the holiest with his own blood atonement. There he intercedes for us with the Father (Heb. 9:11, 12, 24; 10:19-22).

The Lord Jesus Christ is Jehovah’s faithful Servant, "Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house." (v. 2). The Jews esteemed Moses most highly, as the servant of God by whom the law was given at Mt. Sinai. But Moses was only a man, a sinful man. Christ is God’s perfect Servant, completely, perfectly obedient in all things. Moses was typical and representative of him. The point Paul is making here is the fact that Christ is far greater and more glorious than Moses.

Moses was faithful to the trust and responsibility put upon him by God. The whole house of Israel was committed to his charge and care. So, too, Christ, as our Mediator and Surety, had all God’s elect given to him, trusted to his hands from eternity (Eph. 1:12). As our Surety, he became responsible for us to bring us to glory. This he shall do. “He shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). The Good Shepherd will bring all his sheep safely into his fold (John 10:16). “He shall not fail.” The Lord Jesus Christ shall accomplish all that he was given to do (Isa. 42:1-4; John 6:37-39).